Monday, February 11, 2013

A Valentine from God to You Who Suffer

I designed you out of love and formed you inside your mother. (Psalm 139:13)

I know you so well, I could tell you the number of the hairs on your head! (Matthew 10:30) My precious thoughts of you are as countless as the sand on the seashore. (Psalm 139:17-18)

I wanted mankind to love the way I love, but it didn’t work out. Because we became so badly separated, my son, Jesus , lived among you and became a living sacrifice to restore you, who choose to love in my name, to me. (1 Timothy 2:5, John 14:6, 1 John 4:14) I lavish my love on you. (1John 3:1)

You, my children,( Ephesians 1:5) don’t need to worry about what happens, even though you suffer. If you trust me, and acknowledge me as Lord over your life, you don’t have to depend on your limited understanding of how why you have such pain, and how to get relief.

Instead, you can know that I will direct your path. (Proverbs 3:5-6) What I direct may not always seem obvious, or even the right way to go, because how I act is a mystery to you. (Isaiah 55:8, 1 Cor 13:12) Yet, if you could simply trust that I’ve got your back, you will find that I make things happen for good. (Romans 8:28) I am your rock...your fortress...your salvation. You can never be shaken from my grasp. (Psalm 62:5-6) As hard as it is to believe, you can discover if you spend time with me, that my power is made more known in your weakness. (2 Cor 12:9)

Such things are incomprehensible. Don’t worry. The Holy Spirit intercedes on your behalf, so don’t worry about knowing how to talk to me. Just talk to me, because I long to spend time with you. (Romans 8:26-27). I will answer through circumstances, people, and through my word (the bible). If you keep your “antenna” up to look for me, you will find me. (Proverbs 8:17)

8 comments:

Judi! So good to "hear" from you! Your words - as usual - hit home and were very real. The scriptures were very pertinent - esp Ps. 37 for me today. We sure would love to travel to VA and visit with you and Warren over a tall iced tea (OK- organic mint hot tea)and catch up on your journey with pain and joy and Him. We can not tell you how much your have encouraged us and our ministry! These short days of overcast, gray skies and icy, snowy and now rainy days take their toll on me (SADS)after a day of counseling. So ... so .. glad God chose to give me Ellen for these days. He has used her to "put light back into my eyes (Ps. 13:3)." Keep on! Psalm 71:19-21 merges right into your theme for this blog. Thanks for making this happen and for your example of choosing joy today.Think it was GK Chesterson who once said, "The dead will effortlessly float downstream with the waters; it is the living who fight against the drift to go upstream." Thanks for your example of choosing life. So glad that this is His battle. Lastly, II Chron. 20:12c - ".. Lord, I don't know what to do .. so my eyes are fixed on you." Dick B

Dick-- SO good to hear from you! Your words are always so real and honest, and always full of God's work in us and around us. Thank you for your encouragement. I'm so thrilled that you have Ellen, and so grateful that God continues to give you the call to counsel--so needed by so many.

Thanks, Judi, for reminding us of God's unconditional love for His children! Sometimes we forget just how much He does love us. Your blog continues to encourage us on this journey of pain. God will see us through!

Gingirl-- Your words give me strength, even on a day like this when pain has made every movement difficult. Thank you for writing. God will see us through...I need the reminder as often as I give it! Bless you!

Judi-a Spiritual Bouquet of HIS words-what a blessing this is for me~~just as you said "words from caring friends give us strength--especially on days when everyfiber of our bodies throb and nothing will stop it.

I seem to be having a long siege of "One step forward, two steps Backward" as I went with almost no sleep for five days, finally my body spoke up and I was blessed with a Full night of rest-not waking until almost noon the next day!

Words of love and encouragement from friends and loved ones means more than our tired minds can explain. Another dear friend sent me a Card that was a "Spirit-filled Prayer" and it touched me to the core of my heart! I keep this card right beside my computer~~so I can see it-during the long dark nights of no sleep and too much Pain.

One of my precious Bibles is laying on my printer~~I know, probably seems like a silly place to put it, but its "within easy reach" and trust me, I do grab for the Bible-lately I am so tired, all I can do is let my hand rest on top of it. All I can do is hope HE understands....

Please know you are always in my heart and I also send a wish on Valentines Day to you~~~"Lord, please give Judi a break from Pain!!"

Sorry I don't have it in me to give you all the loving words you so richly deserve!

Martha-- Wanted to read and re-read your note. Love that you keep your bible in arm's length--I should keep about 100 around the house to do the same! So pleased that someone sent you a card of encouragement. How we need those!

Praying for your relief as well...my hurt reminds me to pray for all the others who hurt. 2 Cor 1 in action!